Obvious Choices, for Better, Worse

In their inimitably vexing fashion, Grammy voters once again have skirted that fine line between good taste and cluelessness in their R&B; nominees.

Last year was, in fact, a fairly strong one for R&B;, and it wasn’t all found on the margins, either. For every emergent talent like Jill Scott, there were striking smash singles from Sisqo and D’Angelo.

In other words, there was plenty for the voters to choose from, and they mercifully didn’t overlook obvious picks. In the best vocal categories, worthy nominees include Erykah Badu for “Bag Lady,” Scott’s “Gettin’ in the Way,” D’Angelo’s “Untitled” and, yes, even Sisqo’s “Thong Song.”

In the category of vocal performance by a duo or group, Lucy Pearl’s “Dance Tonight” is a pearl among duds. Amazingly, there are three worthy winners in the best R&B; song category--”Bag Lady,” “Untitled” and “Thong Song”--and barring an upset by Destiny’s Child’s “Say My Name,” the genre won’t be shortchanged in that department.

True to form, the voters overlooked Badu’s “Mama’s Gun” in the best album category while including Boyz II Men’s unremarkable “Nathan/Michael/Shawn/Wanya.” Sisqo’s mega-hit “Unleash the Dragon” is, not surprisingly, among the R&B; album nominees, up against more worthwhile potential winners such as D’Angelo’s “Voodoo” and Scott’s “Who Is Jill Scott?”

The academy has once again offered up the nebulous traditional R&B; vocal album category, and a special achievement Grammy should be awarded to anyone who can figure out just what this means.

Based on the nominees, who include Jeffrey Osborne, Johnnie Taylor and the Temptations, it seems to denote poorly selling veteran artists who appeal to the recording academy’s older flank.